A Muslim man who allegedly waved a flag resembling Pakistan’s national flag during a religious procession last December, in Bisauli area of Badaun about 50 km from here, was arrested on Monday.
The arrest came a couple of days after two Hindu boys of the same area were held for posting an objectionable message on Whatsapp.
“We arrested one Salman Khan (26) from the house of his relatives. The accused was absconding following the incident (in December),and a police team was on the lookout for him,” said senior superintendent of police (SSP) of Badaun, Chandra Prakash. Cops are now looking for the second accused in the case - a minor boy.
Salman and a 15-year-old boy were charged under sections 295A (deliberate and malicious act intended to outrage religious feelings) and 153 (giving provocation with intent to cause riots) of the Indian Penal Code, for waving a flag that resembled Pakistan’s national flag during a religious procession of Muslims in December, 2016. Sixty other unidentified men were charged in the case.
“The flag was made at Salman’s residence and was handed over to the minor who waved it during the procession,” said investigating officer (IO) Kuldeep Singh. “We are still trying to identify others who were present during the procession and failed to stop the accused.”
{{/usCountry}}“The flag was made at Salman’s residence and was handed over to the minor who waved it during the procession,” said investigating officer (IO) Kuldeep Singh. “We are still trying to identify others who were present during the procession and failed to stop the accused.”
{{/usCountry}}Meanwhile, some local Muslims have alleged that Salman’s arrest was a fallout of the arrest of Hindu minors on Saturday. However, cops have denied any connection between the two.
“Salman was held to ‘compensate’ for the arrest of the Hindu boys last week. The arrest was made under pressure from local Hindu groups,” said Salman’s cousin Faheem. “The case itself was registered following pressure from the BJP.”
The BJP district president, Harish Shakya had reportedly organised a rally in the area following the flag-waving incident, and had also submitted a memorandum to then district magistrate to lodge a complaint in the matter.